]]>27535Tue, 13 Nov 2018 20:00:20 +0000War of Rights.https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26363-war-of-rights/First person shooter during the battles of the American Civil War.Excellent recreation of weapons, uniforms, regiments, landscapes, historical battles, skirmishes etc.For lovers of this era of American History. Enjoy it.

Please take this as intended and not trying to tell you how your business works. I’ve NO qualification in Games Development, just my own personal entertainment. However, I do look at an awful lot of businesses in all shapes and sizes. Project Development and working concepts no matter how good the end idea or talented the man power all struggle with the same issues. Irregular cash flows that make it hard to model future cost allocation planning.

This article actually tells us nothing at all. However, my un-qualified guess actual was 3 to 5 years what was yours? I don’t know if STEAM looks deeply into its EA launches, I’d hope it does and not just slapping a warning label on the front.

NA-OW Problem...

Naval Action [NA-OW] shows STEAM release Jan21’16. I joined in the March’16 paying HKD300 about USD40.00. By mid-2017 I noticed an issue and others also in the forum hinted the same. We want to give extra funding to the small Dev team for this worthwhile project but can’t. A one-off one-time payment in return for un-restricted life time access to the MMO. That is the worse business model imaginable.

The [NA-OW] cashflow each month needs to find a brand-new customer with USD40.00. Its current CUSTOMERs are worthless other than for feedback not cash. ALTs were the only means to provide them with extra money from existing customers.

This ALT usage wasn’t encouraged either. Moving forward to present [NA-OW] now offers four very different DLC packages. These packages when used together actually allow the solo player to use them like an ALT-Lite. Current to buy all DLCs costs HKD293 or USD37.00 or slightly cheaper than buying a brand-new account. This wasn’t coincidental. However, @Jean Ribault explains this next part much better than I...

I appreciate the fact that you recognize some of my views on the subject.But I don't really condone the DLC approach either, in the context of game purity.While bypassing the ALT purchase to go the DLC route might in appearance produce the same result in a more legitimate manner, let me equate it to this situation: in one [U.S.] state it is illegal to purchase or consume marijuana, and in other state it is legal for medicinal purposes, but in either case you get the same result from extended use... your genitals shrink and you experience memory loss.(...and you enjoy yourself in the meantime)...Even if in one state the consumption is legit, and one it is not, the results are still similar for your body.

Its (ALT) still viewed as not playing within the context of the game. This I personally don’t agree with, but it is a fair and legitimate point. This rolls on to a lot of negative posts on STEAM. The one outstanding complaint is Game-Labs should not be selling DLC products on an Early Access Game.

This unfortunately I agree with, but revenue needs to come from somewhere. Damned if you do damned if you don’t...

My EA with ARMA III

A few years back I bought ARMA 2 UK Forces PACK. Really enjoyed it and the Developer blog ride along. I was hopeless at the game even so. When the ARMA III early access was offered I bought the top package Deluxe Edition because I thought it was worthwhile cost was USD50.00 and to help. It was well worth the ride and sure enough post launch the DLCs started.

It was a great experience from a large Dev House and with already existing platform. A layup shot if there was ever one...

In all seriousness with [NA-OW] as of today Sep’18 and 4,000 hours in-game how much should I have paid? Even with the ALT purchase $80 peanuts to what cost [EvE] or the average player spend in [WoWs]. This is all ret-erect with NA-OW too far down the development road now. Would this idea below be feasible or work or provide an easier path to complication...?

Idea: Dreadnought Early Access Road-Map

When it’s at the STEAM EA stage targeting 3 to 5 years to launch (which is stated). Game-Labs needs to leverage of the existing Platforms, Customers and People. Take a more pragmatic and in touch approach with the third Game-Labs development title.

The first customer target audience is older than the average Gamer and is an existing Game-Labs product owner. They are willing to invest and even stay with a project understanding the difficult process, to an extent. This much more than the younger gamer with less disposal able income.

GL are a small boutique Dev house and publisher that punches way above its weight. The company can deliver the detailed product with passion our customers expect. This wasn’t all smooth sailing which GL learned from these mistakes...

Early Access Cost is structured like this on STEAM...

A fixed six-month contract of USD3.40per month that then rolls monthly. At the end of each 6-month period BLING given. If the player sticks with the full twelve months their total cost USD40.20 per year. The earliest break at 6-month USD20.40...

This first six months collection by Valve needs to lock USD20.40 at the start that’s then paid through STEAM to Game-Labs. This helps [GL] and the customer still sees the money in their account even though its locked. Valve gain sitting on the interest earned from the locked deposits...

Game-Labs can forecast cashflow much better than before and if extra finance is needed its an easier sell rather than periodic spurts. Staff allocations and factoring become more routine...

Risk of not Rolling Forward...

The risk of a customer cancelling that monthly roll is the focus. Keeping in touch with smaller but more timed updates like the 15th of every month rather than big patches then a gap. Get an English-speaking Developer to do monthly Dev blog updates YouTube. Not company secrets but how the game is doing...

This is customer retention before the game is even close to competition. This is different from before with sell them one product and forget them. Player retention growth revolves around the USD3.50 monthly fee with build targets laid in.

Summary

Just take it with a pinch of salt from an unqualified player. The ability of the idea would it help GL in developing a game in both speed and funds flow? The best customer you have is the one who has already given you cash don’t let him go...

The UG and NA-OW community are very loyal and a valued asset that needs managing as well...

The Games UG & NA are brilliant and prove you can do it.

Norfolk nChance [ELITE]

Sort Version

Change the funding for the next project to monthly that rolls. Helps with even cashflow that makes future planning more realistic. Retain the Customer from day 1 and focus on retention very early on in development with communications and timed updates...

]]>27041Tue, 25 Sep 2018 02:49:00 +0000Sagas to completehttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/27037-sagas-to-complete/
I'm about to finish the Metal Gear Solid saga and the Devil May Cry saga and I was wondering if any of you would have any saga to recommend.

]]>27037Mon, 24 Sep 2018 20:04:02 +0000Struggling with Battle of Antietam as Conf.https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26996-struggling-with-battle-of-antietam-as-conf/
Okay, I'm not new to this, but for some reason no matter my strategy I am getting seriously beaten every time I try. To be fair I haven't played for a while, and not since the last official patch. I don't know if that is making the difference.

My basic strategy is to hold on to Dunker Church and then Sunken road and not lose 50% of my army, but I haven't managed so far. I play defensively, and try and use cover. But every battle I am seriously outnumbered. My last try, I upped my brigade size to 2000 men a piece which helped significantly. I had 52,000 men, but the Union had 92,000. I inflicted over 30,000 casualties but I could not hold on to any of the victory points other than Sharpsburg. However, I had lost over half my men, so I was defeated and sacked. The time prior I was using 1000 men max a brigade, and filled out my 3 corps where I could. I was up against 79,000 men at that point, but I was still spanked like a ginger step-child.

I'm wondering if I could forget the sunken road entirely, and focus on the church. Reason being, I'm not going to win this battle. but if I limit my casualties I could force a draw? I couild use the terrain better to my advantage than what the sunken road offers.

The other option maybe, is to use a much smaller army. Scaling etc. I just don't know what to do.

]]>26996Wed, 19 Sep 2018 20:29:01 +0000Where are the rules and guide lines for this forum?https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26870-where-are-the-rules-and-guide-lines-for-this-forum/
I’ve been canvasing the indexes but can’t find them, they don’t seem to be very easily assessable.

]]>26730Wed, 22 Aug 2018 17:08:08 +0000How do you decide to buy a gamehttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26482-how-do-you-decide-to-buy-a-game/
My assessment of any game starts with player made videos. I don't watch Developer teasers because they are almost always misleading. Player made videos provide a decent idea of the gameplay, and the creator sometimes offers a few valuable opinions.

If the videos look good I seek opinions from friends who own the game. This is really helpful because discussions can reveal details that are missing from videos.

I find that reviews can be misleading and are very limited. Someone else may rate features differently that I would, so a low rating may have little influence on me because don't care much about the content that the reviewer perceived as important.

Steam reviews are a indication of the general appeal. A recent and overall Rating of "Overwhelmingly Positive" tends to influence me to spend money. When the sum of these reviews are 96%-97% positive it increases my confidence that the game is well made. I seldom read individual steam reviews because the negative ones are usually rants, entertaining, when I'm bored, but not very informative.

Price is important and proportional to the amount of time I will spend researching. If the price is low I am more likely to buy it and decide for myself. Games that are very expensive need a demo, so I can try it first.

Naval warfare has a rich history dating back to ancient times, spanning countless conflicts that have relied on access to the world’s oceans. Fleets and flotillas have been crucial for the logistical transportation of materials, goods, treasures and troops. In combat, naval vessels have the capability to strike a decisive battle against the opponent or interdict against their supply lines. Undoubtedly, this is an important branch of a nation’s military, but how does this element of warfare translate to videogames?

Those who are looking for naval warfare can find games that are worth an investment, whether more arcade-style combat, or developing the strategy for an entire battlefleet. The following titles are absolute plays for the admiral-minded types looking to expand their naval-themed experiences.

Primarily, the games presented are of two sorts: the wargame-likes – where it is more about an arcade or pure battle experience, and the simulations – where understanding of mechanics and planning accordingly can take a whole afternoon if need be.

I do not know about you but I miss MICROPROSE a lot.I grew up playing his simulators back in the 80's.I remember the quality of their games and also and not least the quality of their instruction manuals.I have the manual of the B17 Flying Fortress on hand and it is a delight.Games like COLONIZATION, FIELDS OF GLORY etc.They taught History.You learned from them.

As the great Winston Churchill said about the bravery of the RAF pilots: "So much owed by so many to so few".This can also apply to MICROPROSE. Good weekend to everyone. 🙂

We begin.

And many more.....

]]>26316Fri, 06 Jul 2018 14:18:06 +0000https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/20960-skull-bones-by-ubisoft/
Ubisoft just announced a naval combat game similar to Naval Action. "Similar".

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It is the Golden Age of Piracy. Renegade captains command the most powerful weapons on Earth: warships. In Skull & Bones™, you are an insatiable, upstart pirate captain who has refused the king’s pardon. Having nothing to lose, you sailed from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, an exotic and untamed frontier full of lavish riches.

However, these rich and idyllic waters are also a battleground where far-reaching colonial empires, powerful trading corporations, and ruthless pirate gangs are fiercely competing for their share of these valuable treasures.

During your journey to become the ultimate pirate kingpin, you will build a fleet of ships you can customize, prey upon lucrative trade routes, and take down rival pirate captains, memorable characters, or other players. In order to survive in this ruthless ocean, you will have to ally with other pirate captains to form the most influential pirate gang, becoming too big to fail and joining the endless struggle for supremacy of the Indian Ocean.

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Skull and Bones: E3 2017 Announcement Cinematic Trailer

Skull and Bones: E3 2017 Multiplayer Gameplay Walkthrough

]]>20960Mon, 12 Jun 2017 21:02:25 +0000Waiting for E3?https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25808-waiting-for-e3/
Just in case you forgot. E3 is happening on June 12-14. Many new games will be revealed including Battlefield V and Skull and Bones. Are you exited? What games are you waiting for?

]]>25808Tue, 08 May 2018 11:50:41 +0000Random Ship Tattoohttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26216-random-ship-tattoo/
I was browsing through some south korean tattoo artists ( i might be moving there soon hopefully so i'm doing some scouting ) and found that one. Thought some people here might appreciate it.

]]>26216Mon, 25 Jun 2018 16:41:08 +0000Boris Belov, the musician. DiD ( dead is dead ) career / start 1941https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26080-boris-belov-the-musician-did-dead-is-dead-career-start-1941/
Reckon most simmers around here might have spent time or not in the BoX univers. If not, well, have fun - https://il2sturmovik.com/

In any case, and putting aside all the great fun in the online wars ( mainly coconut servers but also a timid foray into taw ) the single player career is just phenomenal in many aspects ( with issues like it befits all games. )

So without further addo let me present you to Boris Belov

]]>26080Fri, 08 Jun 2018 09:30:31 +0000Skull and bones to have a " historical " settinghttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25461-skull-and-bones-to-have-a-historical-setting/
Found this interesting

Wonder how historical it will be. Speculation lol.

]]>25461Sun, 01 Apr 2018 23:39:51 +0000Dragons Conquer Americahttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25468-dragons-conquer-america/
Don't know how many of you folk do indulge yourselves into good pen and paper games but just wanted to call to attention to Dragons Conquer America. Strongly based of conquistador era and meso america cultures and myths.

]]>25468Mon, 02 Apr 2018 09:38:02 +0000Total War Arenahttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25271-total-war-arena/
I downloaded the game Total War Arena as it is in Open Beta and thought I would make a couple videos on how the game works. The first video covers the interface which is rather complicated not unlike other Wargaming.net games such as World of Tanks and a second video to show a PVE battle, end screens, rewards and stats. I call the videos "what the heck is going on" as they are meant to be informative and not judgemental. It is a free to play game so I'll leave that up to ya'll to decide if your first impression is positive or negative; although personally, I like it.

]]>25271Tue, 13 Mar 2018 00:16:16 +0000What other Age of Sails games are out there?https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25415-what-other-age-of-sails-games-are-out-there/
Just curious, what other viable Age of sail games are available ( not Sea of thieves) that are worth playing?
]]>25415Mon, 26 Mar 2018 21:34:05 +0000Sailawayhttps://forum.game-labs.net/topic/20159-sailaway/

- Lost all the starting money intended for charcoal on gambling, became desperate, had pick and sell flower bouquets and part with some clothing to make it back somehow.

- Was going to be an upstanding citizen until I got seduced out of my remaining 40 groschen by a bathhouse wench and had to resort to doing shady work for the miller. Found an expensive amulet in a crow's nest while doing that work and pawned it for 250 groschen ; take your money and sod off miller!

- Got a bit lost in the woods at night after chasing and dispatching a pathetic bandit who surrendered as soon as I drew my sword, couldn't see a thing so I thought I'd bee-line through the woods, promptly went towards what looked like an open field to just to be able to see anything at all, what I didn't see was the cliff just behind the bushes...

Quite refreshing compared to most games nowadays.

]]>24926Wed, 14 Feb 2018 10:18:37 +0000Scourge of war series.https://forum.game-labs.net/topic/24889-scourge-of-war-series/
Hello, for who loves to be a commander in the Napoleonic Era, i suggest Scourge of War and its expansions. It is in 3D and very historical accurate. The game is available in English, French and Italian languages.

You can be a Captain and comman a simple battalion up to General, commanding a Corp. There’s FoW and delay in orders, and sometimes the orders will not arrives because the man who bring them will be killed. All the real battalions are on the map: you can switch between 2D and 3D map.

Here’s a link to a Youtube video

There’s also a version for the American Civil War, if you prefer this Era.

The game is a little slow and graphically is not very good, but all is compensated by the playability. Have a look.